Canada
Call for a National Strategy to Address Gambling-Related Harms in Wake of Sports Betting Boom
Recent gambling policy changes in Canada have led to increased opportunities to legally bet on sports and gamble online, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Released today, Gambling Availability and Advertising in Canada: A Call to Action looks at the impacts of legal gambling in Canada since the approval of the Safe and Regulated Sports Betting Act in 2021. The report recommends developing a pan-Canadian strategy to address gambling-related harms. This is a new report by Greo Evidence Insights (Greo) and the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA).
This call to action is in response to the significant increase in gambling advertising on billboards, social media, at commercial breaks during sports broadcasts and during sporting events. Increased gambling availability and advertising are expected to contribute to increased gambling in Canada, thereby posing a significant risk of harms among the general population, particularly for youth, young adults and other vulnerable populations.
The report also describes how the increased availability of gambling and in gambling advertising are of great concern because:
- The types of gambling being made available and promoted (single-event sports betting and live or in-play betting) are associated with a greater risk of harm. For example, single-event sports betting increases gambling intensity and gives an illusion of control over the outcome as people believe their knowledge of the game gives them a competitive edge.
- The volume of gambling advertisements repeatedly pairing sports with betting normalizes gambling, leading people to think of betting as an integral part of being a sports fan.
- Increased availability of gambling and in gambling advertising are happening at a time when many people in Canada are more vulnerable to problematic gambling and gambling-related harms because of the lingering health impacts of COVID-19 and a rise in the cost of living.
“Over the last few years, we have witnessed some of the most significant changes in gambling policy since the 1970s,” explained Dr. Matthew Young, Chief Research Officer at Greo, Senior Research Associate at the CCSA and Adjunct Professor at Carleton University. “We have seen a massive increase in gambling advertising and opportunities to gamble. We can no longer watch sports with our kids or go online without being subjected to an overwhelming amount of gambling advertising. Canada is at a critical moment in how it manages gambling. A national strategy or framework — similar to what we have for alcohol, tobacco and cannabis — is critical to manage the expected increased in gambling harm, especially among youth and other vulnerable people.”
The report recommends developing a national strategy that will:
- Develop national standards governing the promotion and availability of gambling;
- Manage conflicts of interest among gambling stakeholders;
- Address inadequate funding for gambling harm prevention and reduction initiatives and research;
- Monitor systematic changes in gambling-related harm, including any assessments of the social and economic costs of gambling; and
- Increase awareness of gambling-related harms among health and social service professionals and the public.
“Increased gambling among people living in Canada will undoubtebly result in increased harms and therefore increased societal costs. These include healthcare costs, criminal-justice costs, child welfare costs, increased unemployment and lost productivity costs because of gambling-related suicide,” says Dr. Pam Kent, Director of Research and Emerging Trends at CCSA. “We need to think about our approach and ensure that it considers not only short-term government revenue and economic activity but also the longer-term societal costs. That’s why we need a national strategy.”
AGCO
Platipus Gaming secures Ontario supplier licence
Platipus Gaming has obtained a supplier licence in Ontario, Canada, clearing the company to provide gaming content to licensed operators in the province.
The licence brings Platipus under the oversight and technical standards required in Ontario, with the company positioning the approval as part of its broader focus on regulatory alignment and responsible product supply.
A spokesperson from the Legal Department commented:
“We are pleased to receive our supplier licence in Ontario and to make our gaming content and solutions available. Following a comprehensive application process, we can now formally present this achievement as part of our regulated market presence.”
Viktoriia Andreasen, Head of Marketing, added:
“Ontario stands out as a well-structured and highly organised jurisdiction. It represents an important regulated market with strong operational standards”.
The company said the approval supports its “compliance-by-design” approach, where regulatory requirements are integrated early in product development, and that operating under Ontario’s framework can help support entry into other regulated markets that reference Ontario standards.
The post Platipus Gaming secures Ontario supplier licence appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Bally’s Intralot
Bally’s Intralot Signs New Contract with British Columbia Lottery Corporation
Bally’s Intralot S.A. has announced that its Canadian subsidiary, Intralot Canada Ltd., has signed a new contract with the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) for the provision of Shared Services, an integrated model governed by BCLC, to accelerate the continued evolution of its lottery technology and to strengthen lottery operations, for the benefit of players across the Province.
Under the agreement, Intralot Canada will deliver end-to-end operational and technical support across BCLC’s lottery technology encompassing both lottery and technology operations. The contract further includes structured roadmap delivery for the ongoing enhancement of lottery technology and the seamless integration of new capabilities — ensuring BCLC remains at the forefront of lottery innovation.
Pat Davis, President and CEO of BCLC, said: “This collaborative Shared Services model represents a significant advancement in BCLC’s digital transformation journey. BCLC looks forward to continuing its partnership with Bally’s Intralot in service of a more efficient, streamlined, and resilient operating framework that delivers an elevated experience for our players across both our retail and digital channels.”
“This contract builds on the long-standing successful partnership between BCLC and Bally’s Intralot, and enhances our presence in the Canadian market. We are committed to delivering our best-in-class, fully integrated Shared Services model in support of the responsible growth of the Lottery and the good causes it serves across the Province. This is an exciting new chapter for both organizations, and we look forward to the journey ahead,” said Robeson Reeves, CEO of the Bally’s Intralot group.
The post Bally’s Intralot Signs New Contract with British Columbia Lottery Corporation appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
AGCO
Platipus Secures Ontario Supplier Licence
Platipus Gaming has officially obtained a supplier licence to operate in the province of Ontario, Canada. This licence allows the company to provide gaming content to licensed operators in the province and represents a significant milestone in Platipus’ ongoing focus on regulatory alignment, operational consistency, and responsible product supply.
Importance for Operators
For Ontario-licensed operators, partnering with a licensed supplier like Platipus ensures that content is delivered in line with AGCO requirements. This reduces the need for additional regulatory assessments and supports smoother integration of third-party content into licensed operations. All products are designed and supplied with responsible gambling and player protection in mind, adhering to the technical and operational standards required by the Commission.
Strategic Significance for Platipus Gaming
The Ontario licence is a reflection of Platipus’ compliance-by-design philosophy. Regulatory considerations are integrated early in the development process, rather than being addressed as a final checkpoint. This approach ensures that products, processes, and operational structures are prepared for regulated environments from the outset.
Operating under AGCO also positions Platipus to engage with other regulated markets where Ontario standards are often referenced as benchmarks. The licence supports the company’s long-term goal of maintaining consistent product quality, operational reliability, and responsible content supply across multiple jurisdictions.
Company Perspectives
A spokesperson from the Legal Department commented: “We are pleased to receive our supplier licence in Ontario and to make our gaming content and solutions available. Following a comprehensive application process, we can now formally present this achievement as part of our regulated market presence.”
Viktoriia Andreasen, Head of Marketing, added: “Ontario stands out as a well-structured and highly organised jurisdiction. It represents an important regulated market with strong operational standards”.
Ontario supplier licence confirms that Platipus can deliver content in one of the world’s most tightly regulated iGaming markets, with all technical, operational, and compliance requirements addressed.
This milestone represents more than a geographic expansion. It signals that Platipus Gaming has structured processes, robust governance, and a compliance-focused development approach, supporting sustainable regulated operations and long-term market participation.
The post Platipus Secures Ontario Supplier Licence appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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